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An article is authored by Salone Sehgal, General Partner at Lumikai
We are living through unprecedented times. The world as we know has been profoundly altered. Some sectors have been hit hard (hospitality, retail, aviation etc) and some have been indirect beneficiaries (remote working tools, digital media, mobile gaming). As we go through this turbulence, I do a deep dive to see the impact on the gaming industry.
Global Gaming is a $149 billion industry, with mobile gaming accounting for 46 per cent of revenues i.e. $68 billion (growing at nearly 9 per cent), expected to achieve $180 billion by 2021. 2.2 billion gamers across the world mean that the business of fun is serious business.
Typically, gaming as a sector is more resilient than other tech sectors in down cycles. In 2008, a Nielsen study revealed that players devoted 1-2 hours of additional gameplay, corresponding with a secular rise in average minutes/month played in 2008 continuing through Q1 2009. When console sales declined, gamers migrated to mobile, web-based or second-hand games. Real annual economic growth among game makers topped 10 per cent between 2005-2009 even as economies contracted.
In times of stress and forced solitude, the immersive and social nature of games can bring people together like no other medium can. Last week, Verizon reported that videogame usage in the US was up 75 per cent in comparison to video streaming which increased by 12 per cent (while overall web traffic was up nearly 20 per cent and social media usage remained largely flat). A week back, Steam hit its all-time concurrent user peak of 20 million users. In China, average weekly downloads of apps/games during the first two weeks of February jumped 40 per cent compared with the average for the whole of 2019. Revenues followed a similar trajectory. Daily usage of games increased by 40 per cent to 159 minutes. Report says Honor of Kings achieved a new record of 150M DAUs; other titles like Peacekeeper Elite achieved 100M DAU’s. Certain genres i.e. card games, board games, female-focused content also did particularly well.
Given that games deliver a higher value to price proposition there is an increasing desire to get more value out of games often at the cost of costlier forms of entertainment. As discretionary expenditure on vacations/dining out/events etc wanes those freed up consumer dollars divert to gaming. However, as the inevitable unemployment events take place, certain demographics of gamers will cut back on playing and spending. The substitution effect above will tend to offset any direct demand destruction.
On the e-sports side, conspicuous lack of sports competitions will drive enthusiasts to virtual sporting events. ESL Pro League reported a 27 per cent year over year increase in online viewership with its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive March 16 event. However, actual e-sports tournaments/ticket sales will take a hit with cancellations.
In India, gaming is witnessing a similar boost. Time spent and mobile game downloads both increased by 20-30 per cent, over a time span of a week across the board for companies like Adda52, WinZO, Games 24*7, Gametion and many others. However, fantasy games will be impacted due to the eventual cancellation of IPL/sports matches and have to experiment with content, resort to daily rewards and other give-aways to retain users. As anxiety, stress, boredom and desire for stimulation all trigger, it will result in an increase in wagering/lottery style real money games. Cost of user acquisition will go down as ad inventory frees but conversely ad-based business models will be impacted as brands pull back. Games streaming and influencers will see a surge in popularity. In a milestone event, two home-grown streamers, CarryMinati and Mortal attracted 200,000 concurrent users on a live stream last week.
On the flip side, global supply chain disruptions will impact console sales/peripherals given that China is a major supplier. Expect wider disruption in manufacturing and sales of smartphones particularly as factory units shut down. Delays in the release of next-generation consoles will adversely impact console studios in the mid-term. AAA updates and new game releases will be pushed back. Live operations for mobile games due to remote working could be a challenge if the current period of lock-down extends further. Cancellation of GDC/E3 events will hurt small indies hoping for product launches.
While an extended period of social distancing could result in lost productivity games companies are far better prepared than other entertainment industries (TV studios/content producers etc) on building products with remote teams. Glu Mobile recently launched Disney Sorcerers Arena in the midst of remote working without disruption.
There is no doubt that Covid-19 will have far-reaching consequences. However, as we seek to soothe frayed nerves, a little escapism, frivolity and seeking alternate realities where you have some control won’t be a bad thing.
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)
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Razer’s first effort foray into eyewear, the Anzu Smart Glasses, may have received some underwhelming reviews, but the company isn't giving up. Today it unveiled a new pair of glasses that go on sale later this week for $239. But don’t expect them to level up your gaming.
The PC maker designed the glasses, called the “Razersuperfuture,” in collaboration with Italian eyewear company Retrosuperfuture, Razer's first fashion eyewear partnership. But unlike the Anzu Smart glasses, which doubled as Bluetooth earphones, you won’t find any tech features here.
Instead, Razer is touting the glasses as a fashion accessory, complete with the company's neon green logo colors. The acetate frames merely feature “photochromic lenses,” meaning they’ll darken when exposed to sunlight. Hence, the product can be used indoors for gaming sessions, as well as outdoors as a pair of sunglasses.
The lenses feature blue light protection to help alleviate eye strain during long hours of staring at a computer monitor. But on the downside, Razer is not offering a prescription lens option.
In terms of their design, Razer says: “The mask-like silhouette was inspired by sportswear pieces with urban streetwear vibes. The model features chunky acetate rims and temples, onto which a wide lens has been mounted to offer extensive coverage and protection in use.”
Razer adds that the frames can also withstand “the rigors of intense gaming sessions,” although that’s probably true for all glasses.
The company says the frames will arrive as a limited-edition product. The first batch of Razersuperfutures go on sale on the company’s website(Opens in a new window) on May 5. In the meantime, the PC maker is selling(Opens in a new window) the Anzu Smart Glasses for only $59.99, down from $199.99.
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Mahindra's new MPV U321 might debut under the name Mahindra Marazzo. Here are all we could know about the all-new MVP from Mahindra.
Mahindra has dropped some words confirming the launch of its new premium MPV. It is also the first MPV ever to be produced by Mahindra. Due to the schedule, at the end of this month, Mahindra will host a press conference to officially kick off their new car and reveal its name.
This soon-to-be-launched MPV whose codename is U321 might take the name “Marazzo” – which is ended with the letter O just like other Mahindra cars. The rumor of this car’s name derives from a verified Twitter account @Mahindra Marazzo whose bio leaks some clues of this new car: “On 31st July, this official Mahindra account will reveal the brand name and design inspiration for our latest offering, the U321. Stay tuned!” However, this account has removed all the pictures as well as its bio line.
Spy images of the new cars have been going around, giving us a peek into Mahindra new MVP. The exterior is expected to receive swept-back projector headlamps, vertical twin stack tail lamps as well as alloy wheels.
Spy images of the new Mahindra MPV reveal that it will have a large grille and swept-back projector headlamps.
The interior of the new MVP is also spotted through the spy images
Entering the segment of premium MPV, Mahindra U321 will compete with Toyota Innova Crysta and Tata Hexa
The new 7-seater MPV might feature dual-tone interior. A touchscreen infotainment is also expected. In terms of standard safety features, the new Mahindra will obviously get ABS and airbags.
About the engine, the car might offer both petrol and diesel engines. For the diesel engine, 1.6-liter mFalcon diesel – the newly-developed engine from Mahindra is hoped to make its debut on this new MPV.
For more news and car reviews, visit our website - IndianAuto.com:


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Singapore – A member of the public urged food delivery customers to be more understanding towards riders and refrain from giving them a poor rating for arriving late because it’s not always their fault.
On Thursday (May 7), Alvin Koj took to Facebook to encourage people to “exercise more generosity and understanding” towards food delivery riders. “Did you know that a good percentage of customers has given delivery personnel a bad rating because their food arrived late during this period?” said Mr Kok in his post. He came to know of the news based on a recent conversation with a GrabFood rider fulfilling a Burger King order. “Aren’t they aware of what actually happened at the restaurants?” asked the concerned citizen. “Please stop doing this!” he urged.
Members from the online community noted that food delivery riders nowadays had to go through extra lengths just to fulfill an order due to circuit breaker measures. “Checks at shopping malls and certain exits and entrances are closed,” commented Ng Boone Sing who added that riders had to walk farther before reaching some food establishments.
Another rider, Jimmy Tay, commented that he had to wait 45 minutes to get his order from Burger King because the restaurant only starts preparing the food when the rider arrives, unlike others who pack orders in advance. He included a photo of one Burger King outlet with numerous food delivery riders from different operators waiting for their pickup.
A netizen who appears to be a food delivery rider took the time to explain the process and how they could not rush a merchant nor pacify impatient customers asking for an update after 30 minutes has passed. Even Robin Tan, who personally visited Burger King, had to wait 40 minutes for a burger despite the absence of a long queue.
Jacqueline Tan reminded everyone how food and beverage companies are operating understaffed. “If you really want to eat at a particular restaurant, either order earlier or be patient for your order to come through. Please don’t make the life of other people unbearable as it is already with our circuit breaker,” said Ms Tan. Others suggested for those who give low ratings to try and collect an order themselves to experience the process.
Perhaps more customers could be like Liza LuvGen who received her food an hour late and felt a bit irritated because her lunch break was almost over. “But there’s no reason to give a low rating to the delivery people. They did their best.”
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Dream Glass Group now has a new website which will provide architects, interior designers, engineering professionals and related sectors with the latest information on its privacy glass in a user friendly way.
Dream Glass Group (DGG), a global leader in the manufacture, supply and installation of privacy glass technology (also known as intelligent glass, smart glass, switchable glass and electric glass) has announced the launch of its new website. This new website is focused on providing architects, interior designers, engineering professionals and related fields around the globe with the latest information on its privacy glass in a user friendly way. In addition to the new design, the site contains:
-the most recent and updated technical specifications for privacy glass;
-articles and press releases about completed projects;
-extensive gallery showcasing completed projects;
-map illustrating distributor network;
-details of Industry events Dream Glass will participate in;
-links to social media marketing sites.


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San Jose, California, December 31, 2012
Zscaler, enabling business beyond the corporate network, today revealed its predictions for cyber security for 2013. The security industry will be going through dramatic changes from the government to vendors with the effects reaching everyone, even in their homes.
Zscaler’s 2013 predictions include:
Privatization of Malware Goes National
White collar researchers are parting with vulnerability information, selling it to a middle man and not asking questions about where it may end up. This trend will continue, but expect new participants to enter the fray, namely nation states. Governments, the US government included, have shown increasing comfort leveraging online attacks to achieve specific goals. Nation states, desperate for top talent to stay ahead, will not confine themselves to only home grown talent, but will become increasingly aggressive bidders on the open market. "Unlike physical weapons whose R&D costs limit their production to governments willing to spend billions, 0-day vulnerability information thrives in the private market," said Michael Sutton, vice president of Zscaler's security research team.
Microsoft Starts Paying for Vulnerability Discoveries
Vendors such as Mozilla and Google made it an acceptable practice to reward security researchers for revealing vulnerabilities. Microsoft has continued to make slow but steady steps forward such as the creation of Bluehat, security conference sponsorships, and through financial rewards for the capture of malware authors. As Microsoft leverages security as a differentiator for Windows 8/RT against mobile competitors, expect this to be the year they pay for vulnerability discoveries .
Shift to Detection from Prevention
Zscaler sees enterprises place much emphasis on prevention without the ability to detect threats. Compromised PCs and data breaches have become a daily fact of life. We will see enterprises will begin shifting their security budget toward detective controls.
Hacking the Internet of Things Goes Mainstream
Connected hardware devices ensure that our digital lifestyle is always online and always accessible. From thermostats to garage door openers, traditional electronics are now Internet connected. The hardware industry has not kept up with these changing security trends. We expect this wave of connected hardware to preset a vast amount of low hanging fruit for security researchers and attackers alike.
Zscaler is revolutionizing Internet security with the industry’s first Security as a Service platform. As the most innovative firm in the $35 billion security market, Zscaler is used by more than 5,000 leading organizations, including 50 of the Fortune 500. Zscaler ensures that more than 15 million users worldwide are protected against cyber attacks and data breaches while staying fully compliant with corporate and regulatory policies.
Zscaler is a Gartner Magic Quadrant leader for Secure Web Gateways and delivers a safe and productive Internet experience for every user, from any device and from any location — 100% in the cloud. With its multi-tenant, distributed cloud security platform, Zscaler effectively moves security into the internet backbone, operating in more than 100 data centers around the world and enabling organizations to fully leverage the promise of cloud and mobile computing with unparalleled and uncompromising protection and performance. Zscaler delivers unified, carrier-grade internet security, next generation firewall, web security, sandboxing/advanced persistent threat (APT) protection, data loss prevention, SSL inspection, traffic shaping, policy management and threat intelligence—all without the need for on-premise hardware, appliances or software. To learn more, visit us at www.zscaler.com.
- Zscaler Security Research
- Zscaler Security as a Service
- Award-winning Web Security
- World’s First Next Generation Cloud Firewall
- Sandboxing and Behavioral Analysis
Director of Communications


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Adidas has launched a new, universal version of its miCoach app for Windows 10 in beta form. The miCoach train & run Beta allows users to track their workout history, browse their user profile and the miCoach blog, and much more right from a Windows 10 device. Here's a breakdown of the features you can expect in the new Adidas miCoach beta:
- complete user interface overhaul: be surprised, the look & feel has many different variations.
- workout history
- fitsmart pair & sync
- shoe tracker
- miCoach blog
- user profile
- app settings
Since the app is universal, it should work across Windows 10 desktop and mobile. This is great news because the Windows Phone 8.1 version of the app, though it appears to be alive and well, doesn't seem to be accessible on Windows 10 Mobile. However, this is a beta version, and Adidas notes that it hasn't been "tested against" Windows 10 Mobile just yet. Indeed, we checked out the app on our devices and found that while the desktop version looks new and fresh, the mobile app still looks very much like the previous version.
Overall, the app is already looking pretty snazzy with a clean interface and an attractive dark theme. Keep in mind that this is a beta, and is thus not feature complete, and may not be completely up-to-snuff. We're not sure when the app was released to the store, but if you're feeling adventurous, you can check out the Windows Store link below to download the miCoach Windows 10 app and give it a shot.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Microsoft reportedly replacing dozens of journalists with AI on MSN
Roughly 50 employees will no longer work for MSN to curate news after this month. Recent reports state that Microsoft plans to replace these roles with artificial intelligence.
Samsung's new 'Access' smartphone upgrade program comes with Microsoft 365
Samsung has introduced a new upgrade program called Access in the U.S. In addition to making it easier for you to upgrade to a new phone, the subscription service also offers Samsung Premium Care and a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Review: Acer's Predator XN253Q X is a gaming monitor with blistering speeds
Looking for a monitor that can keep up with high-end PC hardware? Want to gain any competitive edge possible? The Acer Predator XN253Q X might just be what you're looking for.
Make the most of your Surface Pen and Slim Pen with these awesome apps
To really maximize the ability of the Surface Pen and Slim Pen, there are some essential apps you should check out. We've rounded up the best right here for a variety of purposes.


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As we had earlier informed you that Flipkart was willing to sell its shares to some company and as expected Walmart has won the raxe for that. as the news of Walmart acquiring Flipkart one of India’s biggest online retail broke out on social media, it grabbed many eyeballs. SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son confirmed that the US-based retailer Walmart will acquire a controlling stake in Flipkart, making it the biggest deal in India’s e-commerce sector, at an estimated $15-20 Billion.
The e-commerce portal was founded by Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal in 2007 who were ex Amazon employees. Flipkart initially sold books online however it soon turned into a major game player in the online shopping sector.
According to the reports from Bloomberg, the company has more than 100 million users registered on its site and the company sells eight million products in over 80 categories.
As soon as the news came out twitter was full of jokes for this giant wedding/ colabaration.
— Republic Of Bakchodi (@followTheGupta) May 9, 2018
So many famous marriages this year in India :
Sonam – Anand
Isha – Anand
Aakash – Shloka
Walmart – Flipkart
— Atul Khatri (@one_by_two) May 7, 2018
Now that Walmart is buying Flipkart, what should its new name be?
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) May 9, 2018
Walmart buys flipkart and there lie in rest the founders of flip kart finally to have earned a good amount out of their shitty project.
— Torr, Zero Torr (@ze_wanderer) May 9, 2018
— Anjani Kumar Pandey (@i_AnjaniKr) May 9, 2018
— Aishvarya (@Aishvarya0502) May 9, 2018


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Khumovest Launches New Private Equity Fund for SMEs
Financial services Firm, Khumovest, a 100% black owned and managed financial services firm and a Level I contributor to Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment. has announced the launch of the Khumovest Private Equity Fund I.
The Private Equity Fund will focus on making equity capital investments into small and mid-cap companies operating within South Africa.
Khumovest was established in 2015 by Ratirelo Mothobi Thurstan Moodley, CFA and Ratirelo and Thurstan each have in excess of 10 years of experience within the unlisted investment space, having previously managed private equity and private debt transactions.
According to a post of their website, The Khumovest Private Equity Fund I will provide equity capital to small and mid-cap companies that are in need of capital and strategic guidance to grow their businesses.
“Within South Africa, like other economies across the world, small to medium sized companies are the engines that drive economic growth, employment, and inclusivity.
Mothobi noted: “Over the past few years, we’ve taken note of the difficulty that the owners of small to medium sized businesses have of raising investor capital, as capital continues to flow predominantly to large corporates. We intend to change this narrative, by supporting established small and medium sized companies, to allow these companies, to one day stand confidently among the giants of industry.”
Moodley added: “In addition to providing risk capital, Khumovest is also a hands-on investor, as we assist portfolio companies with strategy formulation, business development, governance and transformation initiatives. We work alongside management and shareholder teams to take good South African businesses and make them world class.”
To date, Khumovest has successfully secured a R125 million commitment from the 27four Black Business Growth Fund and is currently seeking additional investor capital to reach the Fund’s target close of R500 million. Priyan Padayichie (Associate Partner) highlighted: “We are honoured and humbled to have secured a commitment from the 27four Black Business Growth Fund and believe that this funding commitment is a testament to our strategy and product offering, which is greatly needed in the South African market. We are now actively searching for potential investors to invest alongside the 27four Black Business Growth Fund to support our disruptive initiative.”
The Ocean on 76 Group Makes Inroads into Digital Banking with Startup Ukheshe
Ukheshe, a digital fintech platform provider, has announced the appointment of Prins Mhlanga, CEO of Ocean on 76 Group, as a non-executive director. Since launching two years ago, Ukheshe has established itself as a leading payment technology specialist successfully collaborating with several blue-chip payment brands.
The appointment of Mhlanga comes at a time when the company has refocused on the B2B sector and is streamlining its payment solution services.
Clayton Hayward, co-founder of Ukheshe says the company is excited to have Ocean on 76 on board: “Prins will add immense value to the business as a shareholder as well as playing a vital role in driving the company’s transformation strategy in becoming the dominant B2B fintech enabler across the continent.”
Hayward says that the 076 Group invested in Ukheshe at inception and has been actively involved in growing the company as a seed investor to where it is today, a more mature business aiming to reach unicorn status within the next three years: “We have raised just under R100m in less than two years and acquired three companies within this period.
Ukheshe has a strong legacy in enterprise platform delivery in banking and telco sectors, making it a great fit for the Ocean on 76 Group. Having created an extensive range of micro services that enable rapid digital transaction propositions for clients, Ukheshe, with assistance from the Ocean on 76 Group, will strive for rapid innovation in the payment industry.
Group CEO of the Ocean on 76 Group of companies, composed of highly competitive digital platforms that solve modern day business complexities, Prins Mhlanga has significant experience within the telco and enterprise sectors. The Group offers an ecosystem and network of multiple competing and cooperating business models and are well established as significant participants in the digital economy.
“We are pleased to join the Ukheshe board and have ambitious plans, and we are confident that Ukheshe will establish itself as a leading fintech enabler across the continent,” says Mhlanga.
- Ukheshe and Other South African Tech Startups that Disrupted 2019
- SME Banking Expected to be Big in 2020
New Platform Connects Cape Town and Stockholm Tech Hubs to Support Startups
On Wednesday, 10 February 2021, Stockholm – the birthplace of fast-growing tech companies like Skype, Spotify and Klarna – will be joining forces with Cape Town, Africa’s Tech Capital and home to startups such as Aerobotics, SweepSouth and Sea Monster, to launch Cape Town / Stockholm Connect (CSC).
This is a platform that will bring together companies, developers, customers, investors, entrepreneurs, and institutions from across Cape Town and Stockholm via a series of activities. It will also serve as a meeting point and provide participants with well-organised matchmaking opportunities and company visits while also supporting individual requests.
The launch event will feature a diverse group of speakers sharing their insights about the startup landscape in both South Africa and Sweden. Two panel discussions will be taking place, each exploring the opportunities offered by these two cities.
The South African panellists will include Dr Sumarie Roodt, Chairperson of the Silicon Cape Initiative; Zachariah George, Principal at Nedbank Venture Capital & Alternative Investments, and Lebogang Lekoma, Director of Client Services at local startup Sea Monster.
The Swedish contingent will comprise Per Jansson and Marie-Claire Maxwell, Program Managers at Business Sweden; Johanna Blendow, Global Partnership Manager at Norrsken Impact Accelerator and Cecilia Repinski, CEO and Founder of Green Assets Wallet AB.
“It’s time to accelerate and intensify business exchange between Stockholm and Cape Town. Geographical boundaries don’t exist in the digital world, but we have identified gaps when it comes to knowledge and understanding about the respective markets. By connecting these two nodes of digital excellence, we want to close those gaps and create new business opportunities,” says Håkan Juholt, the Swedish Ambassador to South Africa.
City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, Alderman James Vos, adds: “Connecting Cape Town’s startup businesses with other markets across the globe is an important aspect of growing our local economy and creating opportunities for growth and job creation. Cape Town is one of the fastest growing startup centres on the continent and we have so much to offer. Sharing the knowledge and opportunities in our city with other startup centres can only lead to more benefits for our startup ecosystem. I am happy to participate in this virtual launch.”
To register for the launch event, click here; and for more information on Cape Town / Stockholm Connect click here.


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Apple to launch the iPhone 6 in 22 more countries on the 26th of September
Well, the iPhone 6 models are already up for pre-order and arriving in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and the UK in just a few days. The demand is high, as the pre-order units were quickly sold-out and are currently on backorder. If one hasn't gotten a pre-order in, but wishes to get their hands on one of Apple's new smartphones ASAP, visiting a brick and mortar retail store on the 19th of September is their best bet.
If you do not live in one of the countries listed above – fret not, as on September 26th, just a week after the first wave, Apple will open up sales to 22 more countries. Here's the list:
- Isle of Man
- New Zealand
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
Curiously, China is still not in the roster. It was supposed to be among the countries that receive the first wave of new iPhones, but was removed from the list on the Apple website in an overnight edit and it is yet unknown what exactly the problem is.
The iPhone 6's pre-order launch day was a nothing short of a success – with more than 4 million units sold in the first 24 hours and the Apple Store crashing numerous times, due to the extreme numbers of people trying to get their order through. It seems that Apple's predictions for a high demand were well on point.
source: Apple via Redmond Pie


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Just a few days ago, we broke the news that ASUS had already put up a product page on Amazon and was also accepting pre-orders. Knowing the new flagship Chromebook was due in early March, this wasn’t much of a surprise. The bigger shock came in the form of a firm release date in the listing. Along with the two models at $799 and $999, the listing also claimed the latest ASUS Chromebook Flip would be shipping in late February.
This was a welcome surprise and we were quite happy to share the news and judging by the number of folks who already ordered, I’d say plenty of readers were also pretty pumped to see this new Chromebook available for order with a sooner-than-expected ship date.
After that article went out, ASUS USA liked and retweeted our tweet about this news, so we have no reason to believe this was a mistaken listing. However, as of this morning, the listing we have linked in that article is completely gone. Any search for ASUS Chromebook Flip C436 comes up empty and it would seem that you can no longer pre-order this highly-anticipated Chromebook.
While this is a bit of a bummer, the bigger question is why it was handled this way. Sure, they could have sold out of pre-orders, but that doesn’t usually involve completely removing a product page. There are plenty of ways to change the listing to reflect overwhelming response, so I’m inclined not to believe that is the case. Instead, this looks very much like there was an issue of some sort with the listing and things are getting corrected before placing the page back online.
With ASUS giving us an unofficial nod on Twitter after posting, I’m thinking the problem isn’t likely an issue with timing or too much info being on display. If that were the case, I’d assume the listing would have been pulled down the day we published. So, what is the problem? Well, we’re just not sure about at this point. I’m having a hard time coming up with what would have been a big enough issue to completely remove the page aprt from there being some internal communication issues inside ASUS. The hard truth is we’re just waiting to see what happens next.
We’ve reached out and will update this article if/when ASUS officially responds, but I’m inclined to think we may see this listing show up again very soon with corrections made to whatever the problem was. We’ve heard from a few readers stating that they have not been contacted by Amazon about their pre-orders being cancelled, so that’s a good sign that this whole thing is a temporary problem. Hopefully it gets sorted soon, reappears quickly, and the February 24th date still holds: we’re pretty excited to get our hands on one for review for sure!


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This year’s Costume Institute Gala in New York will be a little different than most: it’s hosted by Gap executive vice president of global design Patrick Robinson, and to celebrate, […]
The buzz surrounding Love’s naked soon-to-be-iconic supermodel covers is about to go one step further as the magazine transcends to T-shirts, designed exclusively by Gap.
Cor, she’s a busy bee at the moment isn’t she? When she’s not switching on her store Christmas lights or planning collaborations with Morrissey, Stella McCartney has been designing a […]
Following yesterday’s news that Gap is launching its first fragrance in the UK, the retailer has revealed it will now sell its casual clothing online to us folk, too. Finally!
Can noses be excited? Well ours are. Gap is set to launch it’s first fragrance in the UK next week, called ‘Close’.
We’re sad to report that Don Fisher, the man behind the legendary denim company Gap, has died aged 81.
Yesterday we were invited to a private exhibition of Garance Dore’s illustrations and photography at the pop-up Gap 1969 store in Kingly Street. To celebrate 40 years of the denim […]
Denim is our fail-safe, right? After all, you can never have too many jeans, and let’s face it, they’re one of the few items that are always in fashion. So, […]
Hands up if you’re a fan of Downton Abbey? Yep we are too. And we’re sure that like us you’ll love this interview with the beautiful Michelle Dockery who plays […]


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Gaming created almost $43 billion in North America in 2020, and organizations like Nintendo were significant givers.
As indicated by another report from Research and Markets, shoppers burned through $42.83 billion on games in North America. The vast majority of these billions were produced using versatile games, the firm says, and the U.S. has in excess of 200 million versatile players.
To give the profit some specific circumstance, I delved around in organization financials to see which of the business’ significant players contributed the most to these income. Unfortunately, only one out of every odd organization reports geographic split for games income (Tencent doesn’t report geo-split for gaming, for instance, or probably they’d be at the top; Sony doesn’t all things considered).
I investigated some of North America’s most prevailing industry powers to see their 2020 incomes for the area. The rundown incorporates Nintendo, Activision-Blizzard, EA and Take-Two Interactive.
Exploration and Markets expects North America games spending to reach $83.73 billion by 2026.
An unopened duplicate of Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. that was purchased in 1986 and afterward overlooked in a work area cabinet for more than thirty years has been sold at a closeout for $660,000 (generally Rs. 4.8 crores). Legacy Auctions in Dallas said the computer game sold Friday.
The sale house said the computer game was purchased as a Christmas present yet wound up being put in a work area cabinet, where it stayed fixed in plastic and with its hang tab unblemished until it was discovered recently.
“Since the creation window for this duplicate and others like it was so short, discovering another duplicate from this equivalent creation run in comparative condition would be much the same as searching for a solitary drop of water in a sea,” said Valarie McLeckie, Heritage’s computer game trained professional.
Legacy said it is the best duplicate known to have been expertly evaluated available to be purchased. Its selling cost far surpassed the $114,000 (generally Rs. 83 lakhs) that another unopened duplicate that was delivered in 1987 brought in a Heritage sell off the previous summer.
“When this duplicate of Super Mario Bros. shown up at Heritage, we realized the market would think that its similarly as,” said McLeckie. “All things considered, how much this game was embraced outside the market has been downright outstanding, and that part of this deal has positively surpassed our assumptions. However, I guess we can’t be excessively stunned; who doesn’t cherish Mario?”


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Allied Feather & Down said it has reached a goal to have 100 percent of its global down supply chain optionally certified for responsible sourcing by third-party agencies. But will brands pay the extra costs?
One of the outdoor industry’s leading suppliers of natural insulation, as well as a major player in home fashions, Allied said the certifications help ensure that all of Allied’s down is produced from humanely treated birds. More than 75 percent of its down was already certified through the more robust Responsible Down Standard (RDS), and more than 3 percent through the even more rigorous Traceable Down Standard (TDS).
“Hitting the milestone of 100 percent third-party certification for our entire supply chain for all our partners big and small has long been among our biggest goals, and we couldn’t be prouder to have accomplished it, even before our aggressive goal of 2017,” Allied President Daniel Uretsky said. “There’s still plenty of work to be done in this arena, and we’ll continue leading this charge globally, but this is a huge milestone for Allied and its partners and consumers. We are always looking for new supply chains and will move forward to certify each new one we choose to work with.”
The comprehensive standards of these agencies ensure that among many other qualifications:
- Allied never uses down plucked from live animals
- Animals are never confined in tight spaces and all animals have been treated in accordance to Brambell’s Five Freedoms of animal welfare
- Animals are never force fed.
While 100 percent of their supply chain is now certified, Allied officials clarified that the company “still has some clients who choose not to carry certification forward, so there are still down products from certain brands containing material from Allied’s supply chain that are not certified. This is generally due to the considerable financial and administrative commitments.”
The officials continued, “But Allied is working closely with all organizations and supply chain partners to help remedy this in the future so all brands can easily and cost-effectively deal entirely and exclusively in certified responsibly-sourced product, and carry that message forward to the end user.”
Photo courtesy Allied Feathers & Down


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Add Tully’s Tenders to the list of foods you won’t be seeing at the 2021 New York State Fair.
Tully’s Good Times joins other big-name food vendors like Gianelli Sausage/Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Haddock’s Paddock and Baker’s Chicken Coop that will not participate in the post-pandemic fair later this summer.
Tully’s, like some of the others, blames staffing issues amid a chronic labor shortage that has hit the restaurant industry especially hard.
The labor issues mean Tully’s will not open its stand near the International Building that typically sells tons of chicken tenders along with other food. Tully’s this year will operate its Draft House, a beer garden near the main gate.
“It is with great sadness that Tully’s Good Times announces we will not be serving our fresh chicken tenders at the Great New York State Fair this year,” Tully’s posted this afternoon on it Facebook page. “Due to the ongoing national labor shortage, it has been a challenge staffing our restaurants. It takes dozens of staff to run our food stand and we are not able to find the quantity of employees to operate it at a level our customers have been accustomed to and deserve. Because of this, we have decided to focus all of our efforts and resources on our primary business of running our restaurants.”
Tully’s Good Times is a local group of restaurants owned and operated by the Giamartino family. It has 11 locations across Upstate New York and one in Pennsylvania. The Giamartinos also own the CopperTop and Good Buddy’s restaurants in the Syracuse area. The company is based in East Syracuse.
Dan Giamartino, a partner in the family business, said the Draft House can open because it requires fewer employees than the food stand.
“We are very grateful for the hardworking, loyal team members who are showing up to work day in and day out at our restaurants, some of whom worked straight through the pandemic,” the Tully’s Facebook statement said. “Further demands on our staff is not possible at this time. We are disappointed by this and thank (Fair director) Troy Waffner and the Fair staff for working with us through this difficult year. We will see fairgoers next year, enjoying our Fresh Chicken Tenders to celebrate our 20th year at the Great New York State Fair.”
Fair officials have acknowledged the challenges facing many vendors as the pandemic has wound down while and staff and product shortages have grown.
“We are sorry to know that Tully’s Good Times won’t be with us this year but we understand the situation they’re in,” Waffner said in a statement. “They know they will be welcome at the Fair in 2022.”
Waffner has said some places in the Fair will have fewer vendor spots available, to meet safety and health protocols.
But Fair officials have also said their count of vendors returning this year indicates the quantity of food options will be strong, if not quite up to the level of past years.
In addition to the handful of food vendors who have announced they won’t be on hand for the 2021 fair, some other non-food stands are also out. That includes North Syracuse-based Tarson Pools & Spas, which has blamed a shortage of available products to display for its decision to skip the fair.
This year’s State Fair increases from 12 to 18 days and runs Aug. 20 to Sept. 6.
More on the 2021 NY State Fair:


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Georgetown's IT group issues warning to students and faculty it will not support the beta version of Windows 7, according to report in InformationWeek.
Michael Jordan hit the game-winning basket for the Tar Heels' 63-62 victory over the Georgetown Hoyas.
Georgetown University has begun a program that uses iPads in their operating rooms to assist doctors with complicated operating procedures.
Georgetown University teams with two other tech research firms to develop a new way to measure the glucose levels of diabetes patients without a finger prick.
Show off both your Star Wars and school pride with a new line of shirts, caps, and accessories featuring Darth Vader, Yoda, Stormtroopers, and more.
Man was arrested while allegedly trying to use fraudulent credit cards to buy gift cards and iPads at Texas Target locations, according to court documents.
More than 2.6 million images from public domain e-books have been uploaded to Flickr as part of an Internet Archive project -- with 12 million more to come.
One hundred teams battled for the crown in the Team America Rocketry Challenge over the weekend. Only one rocket was victorious.
In the wake of the Target stores' credit card hack, Sen. Patrick Leahy reintroduces a data privacy and protection law that he's wanted Congress to pass since 2005.


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Virgin Media proved the highlight of Liberty Global's second quarter 2013 results, which otherwise saw a lack of growth in connected households and revenue generating units (RGUs) for the cable company. Excluding Virgin Media's 4.879m customers, Liberty customers decreased from 19.61m in second quarter 2012 to 19.59m in second quarter 2013. In addition, a slowdown of year-on-year RGU additions continued in the second quarter, with Liberty adding 191,000 RGUs on an organic basis compared to 364,000 additions in the same period last year. The slowdown in RGUs was blamed on lower promotional activity in Germany, changes in pricing and increased competition in Central and Eastern Europe. Liberty also reiterated that the continued intensity of competition in another key Liberty market, the Netherlands, contributed to reduced RGU growth.
Liberty Global's second quarter revenues were noticeably driven by the inclusion of Virgin Media, which increased revenue by 25.2 per cent on the previous year to $3,161.9m. With out Virgin, revenue stood at $2,760.6m, up 9.4 per cent on a year earlier. This increase stemmed largely from Western Europe, where revenue grew eight per cent (excluding Virgin Media) to $2,005.7m, despite a 1.6 per cent decline in customers. This was mainly due to strong performance from Belgium-based Telenet and Germany's Unitymedia KabelBW. Telenet's revenue increased 14.6 per cent year-on-year to $534.4m for the quarter, and coincided with the Belgian operator's lowest quarterly churn rate since second quarter 2008. Unitymedia KabelBW also increased its revenue 10.3 per cent year-on-year to $624.6m. Central and Eastern European revenue was up 2.4 per cent on 2012's second quarter figure at $281.5m. Including Virgin Media, Liberty Global's consolidated ARPU increased 13.3 per cent year-on-year to $40.74 (€56.76) in the quarter.
Despite providing a clear boost to Liberty Global's second quarter figures, Virgin Media also experienced customer decline in the second quarter 2013, with a loss of 34,000 RGUs. Whilst the second quarter is typically weaker for the UK cable operator, the RGU loss is greater when compared to a year earlier when Virgin lost 2,900 RGUs. Virgin also lost unique customers during the second quarter this year, which fell from 4.90m to 4.87m. Virgin blamed the drop on student churn at the end of the UK academic year. Nonetheless, on an annual basis, Virgin grew its customers by 67,300. In addition, Virgin's TiVo service continues to perform well, reaching a 44 per cent penetration of TV subscribers in the second quarter. Consumer cable revenue increased year-on-year by 4.2 per cent to £740.3m for the quarter, whilst ARPU stood at £48.80, up 3.4 per cent on 2012's figure.
The addition of Virgin Media has cemented LGI's position as the world's largest cable operator, but current trends suggest that the combined entity will continue the steady flow of customer decline as a result of strong competition in its core markets. Liberty continues its long-established strategy of buying cable assets, despite losing out to Vodafone in its attempt to buy Germany's Kabel Deutschland. Most recently, it increased its stake in Dutch cable competitor Ziggo to 28.5 per cent, further fuelling speculation of a full takeover. According to Dutch law, Liberty can make a full bid for Ziggo if it owns more than 30 per cent, however a merger is likely to be subject to much regulatory scrutiny.
Slowdowns in digital TV customers were a further characteristic mirrored in both Liberty and Virgin's second quarter results. Excluding Virgin Media, Liberty grew its total digital cable subscriber by 89,000 in the quarter compared to 246,800 a year earlier. The majority of Liberty's digital cable slowdown has come from Western European operations. Virgin's also lost 1,900 digital customers in the quarter. Liberty faces further competition from Sky in Ireland, where its UPC brand has seen limited growth in its digital cable and MMDS subscriber base in the past year.
Bundling remains crucial for Liberty's growth and competitiveness, and the addition of Virgin Media to its portfolio of customers is a key gain in this respect. At the end of the second quarter, Liberty's triple-play consumer base increased 54.2 per cent over the quarter to 9,358,000, following the addition of Virgin's 3,200,886 strong triple-play customers. Furthermore, the addition of Virgin has served to increase Liberty's RGUs per customer relationship dramatically from 1.71 in the first quarter of 2013 to 1.93 in the second quarter. Along with Virgin's TiVo growth and Liberty's continued roll-out of its Horizon service, this suggests that Liberty's latest purchase particularly provides an opportunity for ARPU uplift, despite the slowdown in RGU growth.


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Several months ago casting news broke that Alan Ritchson and Minka Kelly were joining the DC's upcoming 'Titans' series as Hawk and Dove, respectively. With production set to start soon on this live-action series, we're...
After taking up the mantle of Spider-Man, a novice Miles Morales will soon learn that he's stepped into something much bigger than he originally thought.
Our first official look at Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry in the upcoming 'Aquaman' film.
Independent comic book publisher Mad Cave Studios has officially announced their partnership with Diamond Comic Distributors.
Marvel Entertainment is set to launch a new animation franchise in 2018 titled "Marvel Rising".
The long awaited trailer for Marvel Studio's biggest film yet, Avengers: Infinity War, has finally arrived - and it's spectacular.
Harley Quinn is set get her very own animated series on DC's upcoming digital streaming service according to an exclusive report from Deadline. The series will launch with 26 episodes, and is set to take...


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The May edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tbilisi was due to the COVID-19 emergency. The event, which is held twice a year, will take place from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 November, through a digital-only platform, in one of the most interesting centers for all-round creativity, Tbilisi in a new unpublished venue, the Art & Culture Center that will open in the former Coca-Cola factory, thanks to the collaboration with the Georgian Fashion Foundation. The 27,800 square meters of the former factory have been converted to create a huge hub, bringing together different types of art, fashion and crafts to host artists from all over the world, identify photographers and aspiring designers to hold seminars or present their work in galleries . The urban space aims to stimulate Georgia’s creativity and promote the country’s rich cultural heritage through interdisciplinary interaction between fashion, design and art.
“I am delighted to cooperate with the Georgian Fashion Foundation in our mission to financially support all those creative communities impacted by the COVID -19 pandemic. Our joint effort will contribute to sustain a number of talented designers who are facing an existential threat and are at risk of going out of business”.
Sofia Tchkonia, Founder and Creative Director of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
Twenty selected designers will showcase their latest collections to a global audience, while many more will make an entrance for the first time. The virtual space is organized in a calendar with slots for each brand, offering a rich agenda freely accessible to the public and industry operators alike. The digital platform, accessible from 19 to 22 November on www.mbfwtbilisi.online, offers unique multimedia content, including interviews, designer diaries, backstage moments and virtual showrooms that are worth the wait.
For the occasion, an Advisory Board composed of influential members in the industry has been created. Together, they play a significant role in strategically assisting local brands through this historical time of economic uncertainty and global competition.
Participating members include:
Antonio Mancinelli – Marie Claire Italia Senior Editor;
Danilo Venturi – Director of Polimoda;
David Koma – Designer;
Diane Pernet – International Fashion Blogger, Critic and Founder of ASVOFF Festival (A Shaded View on Fashion Film);
Filip Niedenthal – EIC of Vogue Poland;
Gena Smith – Senior VP of Human Resources & Head of Global Executive and Creative Recruitment for LVMH;
Godfrey Deeny – International Fashion Critic and EIC of FashionNetwork.com;
Hilary Alexander – former Fashion Director of The Daily Telegraph, Journalist and Writer;
Hiroshi Fujiwara – Musician, Producer and Designer;
Jean Pierre Blanc – Founder of the International Festival of Fashion and Photography in Hyeres and notable Director of Villa Noailles;
Mickey Boardman – Editorial Director of Paper Magazine;
Sara Maino – Deputy Director of Vogue Italia and Head of Vogue Talents;
Stefan Siegel – Founder & CEO of NOT JUST A LABEL;
Steven Kolb – CEO of CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America);
Valerie Steele – American Fashion Historian, Curator and Director of the Fashion Institute of Technology Museum.
check also: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia


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2024 Ford Escape Filed June 22, 2022, this application contains a description of the goods and services in this case Ford Motor Company filed the trademark Escape Active with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Motor vehicles, namely, passenger cars, electrically powered land motor vehicles, four-wheeled motor vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and their structural parts and accessories.
likely months away from its official debut, details on what customers can expect from the refresh are already starting to come out. As Ford Authority previously reported, the Sync 3 infotainment system will almost certainly be ditched for the Sync 4, with a larger screen also making its way into the lineup.
Additionally, the fully exposed prototype reveals that at least one package or trim will adopt the nearly identical monochromatic paint scheme Kuga has worn since its European and another global market debut a few years ago.
2024 Ford Escape Review
A more off-road-oriented Ford Escape Active that retains the current model’s unpainted body cladding, while potentially building on that design, would make sense, given North America’s desire for a utility vehicle that boasts some off-road capabilities.
Blue Oval is expanding its offerings in the area with a range of Tremor models for its pickups, and recently introduced the all-new Timberline series for the Ford Expedition and Ford Explorer as well. In that context, off-road trim for compact crossovers is practically a no-brainer
The addition of the Ford Escape Active will represent the first Active variant in North America, but the trim has been part of the Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus lineups for several years.
The Focus Active models receive an overall higher ride height, unique suspension tuning, skid plates, custom front, and rear bumpers, and other improvements that allow this compact car to go a little further off-road than its road-oriented stable companion.
It’s worth noting that the Fiesta and Focus Active aren’t offered with all-wheel drive, but given how easily that particular option is available in the current Escape, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where The Blue Oval chooses to ignore its availability in a model explicitly designed for off-road use. road.
Next-Gen Ford Escape 2024
The new-generation Ford Escape had a rocky start in the United States. Sales of the Kuga brother in North America fell 26.1 percent in 2020 compared to 2019 despite the crossover being completely redesigned.
In October last year, it was also announced that production of the Escape PHEV would not begin until Ford fixed a battery issue that was experiencing the Euro-spec model.
Now, it turns out that the seven-seater Escape is also not in the plans for a US launch. FordAuthority reports the Blue oval company is working on a three-row version of the compact crossover but it will only be available in China.
According to preliminary details, the seven-seater model will be launched in the People’s Republic towards the end of this year or early 2022.
Our sources say the vehicle will be slightly longer than the standard Escape and will continue to be based on the C2 platform currently used by several Ford and Lincoln products.
The design is almost entirely identical with the only difference between the five and seven-seater versions being the more boxy roofline. Access to the third-row seats will be assisted by the sliding second-row seats.
Initially, it was believed that the seven-seater Escape could replace the Edge in Ford’s US lineup. The latter was expected to be discontinued after the current model year but apparently, the automaker’s plans have changed.
We believe that the upcoming wagon-like Fusion successor could be positioned as a successor to the Edge, which leaves no room for the three-row Escape in the United States.
At this point, there is no word on whether Kuga will get a seven-seater version for Europe.
2024 Ford Escape EV
Another EV option has entered the fray, with the release of the Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV). This marks the start of the launch of the brand’s electric vehicles, with five being part of its lineup by the end of 2024.
Powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol motor, coupled with a 14.4kWh lithium-ion battery, the Escape PHEV produces 167kW of power while maintaining an economy figure of just 1.5 liters/100km.
Ford claims you can also have an electric driving range of over 50km – handy for sneaking away from home.
Charging occurs either via the charging port found on the passenger side of the Escape or while traveling using regenerative braking.
Four driving modes control battery usage, depending on how much battery assistance the driver wants. The Escape PHEV is covered by a 5-year unlimited kilometers warranty.
The electric motor and battery are covered by an 8-year 160,000 km warranty – allowing owners to feel comfortable with the plunge into a new world.
2024 Ford Escape Color
Far from being Ford‘s original “you can have it in any color as long as it’s black”, the Escape PHEV comes in eight colors.
These include Frozen White, Blazer Blue, Agate Black, Blue Metallic, Magnetic, Solar Silver, White Platinum, and Rapid Red. Prices start at $53,440 (up to $54,440 in July), with optional ST-Line and Park packages available.


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The closure of OPPO's chip design unit has sent a warning signal as well to the country's automotive companies, shedding light on the challenges for their venture cross-industry in designing their chips.
Visionox unveils ViP tech to seize the medium and large-size AMOLED display market
Major Chinese mobile phone brands are preparing to make a strong push for sales in the second half of the year
Nvidia’s GPU chips have met golden market opportunities, especially in China, with the development of AI large-language models like ChatGPT. Chinese GPU suppliers are working hard as well to try to remodel the market structure.
Chinese smartphone maker OPPO launched its latest model Reno 10 series on May 24, after the company grabbed the top position in the Chinese smartphone market in the first quarter of this year, reported China Daily on May 25.
The sweeping wave of AI such as large-language models and emerging 5G industries, is driving fast advanced packaging development for more computing power chips.
"Correcting mistakes as soon as possible comes with minimum cost, no matter how big the mistake is," commented Duan Yongping on the shocking decision to shut down its chip design arm Zeku last weekend
OPPO closed its chip design business as the global smartphone market continues a prolonged decline
Chinese smartphone giant OPPO is running its German website with a banner that reads, “Some of the Android phones are not available in Germany
OPPO, the Chinese smartphone giant, closed its chip design unit ZEKU (哲库科技) as the uncertainties in the global economy and the smartphone industry.


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BlackBerry's (NYSE:BB) BB10 has largely been a failure. Once heralded as the operating system that would revive BlackBerry's struggling handset business, BB10 devices have failed to gain traction with both consumers and carriers, including T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS).
To some extent, that's been a byproduct of its app ecosystem, or lack thereof. BlackBerry's app store, BlackBerry World, lacks the vast majority of the most popular mobile apps, making the phones a hard sell for any app-minded consumers.
But that could soon change. Later this year, BB10 devices will gain access to Amazon's (NASDAQ:AMZN) mobile app store.
Amazon brings 240,000 apps
Amazon's app store features some 240,000 apps, including several of BlackBerry World's most notable gaps (Netflix, Candy Crush). Amazon's store isn't perfect -- it doesn't compare to iTunes or Google Play in terms of raw numbers -- but it may be good enough.
Certainly, it's good enough for owners of Amazon's tablets, of which there are millions. Although Amazon has fallen behind other manufacturers in recent quarters, it's still one of the top tablet manufacturers in the world, and its Kindle Fire remains among the most popular Android tablets in the United States.
Amazon's app store is also the app store for its own handset, the recently announced Fire Phone. If Amazon believes its app store is good enough for its handset, it should be enough for BlackBerry's.
But BlackBerry's BB10 problems run deeper than its lack of apps: There's also a question of distribution. BlackBerry declined to renew its contract with T-Mobile back in April, and the nation's fastest-growing carrier no longer sells BlackBerry handsets.
Even before the official break, T-Mobile wasn't seeing much demand for BlackBerry's phones. According to TmoNews, citing an internal memo, 94% of BlackBerry-owning T-Mobile subscribers switched to a different platform during a recent promotional event.
It isn't just T-Mobile. Other U.S. carriers still sell BlackBerry's phones, but they offer far less support than they once did. Neither Sprint nor AT&T offer BlackBerry's recently released Z30, for example.
No hardware ecosystem
Also problematic is BlackBerry's lack of hardware ecosystem. BlackBerry 10 owners that wish to pair their handsets with a matching tablet cannot, as BlackBerry no longer competes in the tablet business.
Amazon's recently released Fire Phone interfaces with its Fire TV set-top box, giving owners the ability to interact with media playing on their television. Similarly, the iPhone works with the Apple TV, and Android phones may soon pair with the rumored Android TV. BlackBerry has no equivalent set-top box, and given its ongoing struggles, is unlikely to prioritize the development of such an accessory.
The continued rise and growing popularity of wearables also presents a unique challenge. There's clearly a demand -- dedicated BlackBerry users have tweaked existing Android-focused smart watches to work on BB10 devices. But getting these devices to work requires a bit of technical know-how, and even then, they don't fully function as intended.
As the space matures, and more wearables emerge, including the Android Wear watches and the long-anticipated iWatch, BlackBerry's lack of a hardware ecosystem could keep consumers away from BB10.
Too late for BlackBerry
Bringing Amazon's app store to BB10 should help fix one of BlackBerry's biggest problems. It does not, however, fix its many other problems -- including its splintered relationships with major U.S. carriers like T-Mobile.
With BlackBerry's share of the U.S. market now down in the single digits, behind even Windows Phone, BlackBerry's future (at least as a successful handset manufacturer) continues to look bleak. Having Amazon's app store might have helped BlackBerry avoid its present situation, but at this point, it seems too late.


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Researchers at Penn State have come up with a new lithium-ion battery design that could overcome one of the greatest challenges faced by electric vehicles: recharging time.
The Penn State scientists have figured out how to recharge the lithium-ion batteries much more quickly by regulating the battery’s internal temperature. If a lithium-ion battery is recharged at a too-low temperature, it can get spike-like internal deposits on the carbon anodes, which reduces the capacity of the battery and can even short the battery out, causing a fire. If the batteries are recharged at a warmer temperature, they avoid this issue, but they deteriorate due to the high temps.
The scientists’ approach is to avoid the dangers of either scenario, by applying Goldilocks’ “just right” approach. They’ve come up with a new battery design that heats up for quick, trouble-free charging, but cools down quickly after recharging to avoid deterioration. The end result is drastically decreased charging time; the researchers claim it only takes 10 minutes to recharge a battery that’s able to power an EV for 200-300 miles. The press release does not say whether that’s with the use of a Class II or Class III charger, but it’s likely either a Class III, or some new charger the team has invented.
As for the battery’s design itself, the Penn State presser says ““The self-heating battery uses a thin nickel foil with one end attached to the negative terminal and the other extending outside the cell to create a third terminal. A temperature sensor attached to a switch causes electrons to flow through the nickel foil to complete the circuit. This rapidly heats up the nickel foil through resistance heating and warms the inside of the battery. ” After charging, the battery’s temperatures are brought down by the vehicle’s cooling system.
It’s an innovative idea, but is it of use to motorcycles? It depends on how bulky, and how expensive it is. An oversized battery and charging system isn’t a big problem for a car, but it is for a motorcycle.
The Penn State researchers say this new design is good for 2,500 charging cycles, up to a half-million miles of road use.


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India’s Potential to Become an AI Powerhouse: Talent, Innovation, and Digital Transformation
India has emerged as a potential powerhouse in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), thanks to its vast talent pool and a consumer base that is eager to experiment with new AI-enabled products and services. The country’s robust IT ecosystem and its ability to democratize technologies have earned it a reputation as a global leader in AI skill development. The Indian government, recognizing the importance of digital transformation, has encouraged the adoption of AI by promoting the penetration of digital technologies. Moreover, corporations are actively seeking automation solutions and prioritizing skills over degrees.
Speaking at a seminar titled ‘AI is the new internet,’ co-founder of Seekho.ai, Arihant Jain, highlighted India’s potential to become an AI superpower. He emphasized the need for Indian companies and AI entrepreneurs to invest more in research and focus on creating homegrown AI products and solutions. Given India’s already established status as an IT powerhouse, the environment is conducive for AI to flourish. AI is rapidly evolving and has become one of the most important technologies of our time, holding immense potential for various industries such as retail, automation, healthcare, logistics, consumer goods, and public services.
However, the impact of AI on the job market cannot be overlooked. While it creates new opportunities and jobs, there is also a possibility of certain tasks being automated, leading to job displacement. Sudha Shivkumar, National President of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), stressed the importance of reskilling and upskilling the workforce to adapt to these changes. FLO is committed to equipping its members with the necessary knowledge, resources, and tools to navigate the digital landscape confidently. The organization has always been at the forefront of driving change and progress for women in business and entrepreneurship.
Recognizing the growing significance of digital empowerment, Divya Jain, Chairperson of FICCI Young Ladies Organisation (YFLO), emphasized the collaboration between FLO and YFLO in building a digitally empowered ecosystem for their women members. They share a vision of empowerment and growth through the power of technology. The event on AI is just one step in their journey towards achieving this goal.
While AI has already become a part of everyday life, it is crucial to ensure its ethical and responsible use. Rajiv Makhani, a renowned tech guru, emphasized that while AI is making a significant difference in our lives, it is often misused and treated as a marketing tool by companies looking to capitalize on its popularity.
In conclusion, India possesses the potential to become a powerhouse in the field of AI. With its talent base, commitment to digital transformation, and a conducive environment for AI innovation, the country can achieve new heights in the technology sector. However, it is essential to strike a balance between harnessing AI’s potential and addressing the challenges posed by job displacement. Reskilling and upskilling the workforce, along with responsible AI deployment, will play a critical role in ensuring a prosperous future.


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Pandora is gearing up for the launch of it’s $10-per-month on-demand streaming option, announcing today that it had secured licensing deals with Universal Music, Sony Music, indie record label trade association Merlin, and more than 30 other labels and distributors.
But there is still a big hole in the internet radio company’s play for world domination: Warner Music Group, one of the three largest record labels in the world, has yet to ink a licensing deal. And while, according to Billboard, the two companies are close to reaching an agreement, Warner could also use the fact that it is the last big hold-up to get better terms.
Pandora has been working to create its own on-demand streaming service for some time now, with CEO Tim Westergren reportedly looking to beat Amazon’s upcoming on-demand streaming service to market.
The press release from Pandora seemed premature to many industry insiders, seeing as it is largely accepted that no fully featured service would be popular without Warner Music on board. The label’s list of major artists is massive, and includes releases from international superstars such as Coldplay, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ed Sheeran, Metallica, and many more.
Still, the streaming radio king will almost certainly work out a licensing agreement with Warner eventually; The label is by no means anti-streaming, with services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Soundcloud currently licensing Warner-owned material.
When it finally secures its Warner deal, Pandora is expected to launch two subscription options. The first will be an expanded version of its current $5-per-month option called Pandora One, which will continue to remove ads and up the number of songs that users can skip to six songs per hour, as well as adding the ability to store playlists online. The second will be its $10-per-month on-demand option.
The on-demand service will be an entirely new offering from the company, but will probably resemble current market offerings from Apple Music, Tidal, and Spotify.
Pandora currently boasts 78 million users, and is looking to convert a significant portion of them to on-demand streaming when it launches its new service. With a conversion rate of just 10 percent, Pandora would instantly become the third-largest on-demand streaming service on earth.
The release date for the upcoming service has yet to be announced.
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Rajby Industries is making a strong case for off-white denim.
At Bluezone in Munich Tuesday, Zaki Saleemi, chief commercial officer of Rajby Industries, shared the process behind developing the first fabric worldwide to be certified at the Platinum level by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, a global non-profit dedicated to transforming the safety, health and sustainability of products through the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard.
“Beluga Denim,” a 100 percent cotton ecru denim, was developed with retailer C&A and C2C assessor Eco Intelligent Growth (EIG).
To achieve Platinum status, C&A and the Pakistan denim mill based in Karachi teamed up to research and identify the most suitable materials and chemicals for the fabric. The resulting denim is optimized for material health–including the use of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic cotton fiber–made with 100 percent rapidly renewable resources.
The fully recyclable denim is also produced using a closed-loop process water system and is 100 percent carbon neutral in the manufacturing stage. EIG collaborated with MBDC on the material health assessment component of the certification.
Garments made with Beluga Denim will launch at retail in about four months. However, the fabric, Saleemi said, has been in development since 2018, with a lack of components that meet C2C standards on material health, waste, water conservation, clean energy and respect to workers and nature hindering its progress to market.
“One of the great things that we’ve learned through this process is a lot more companies, a lot more manufacturers, and a lot more buyers need to be on board this journey,” he said. “And the reason is, you cannot satisfy each individual sustainability initiative, but as a collective, if we put all of these building blocks together, we can have a very robust and sustainable product.”
The complexity of achieving C2C-certified denim can only be eased and made inclusive for everybody if more parts of the supply chain join the effort, he continued. With more sustainable inputs—from fabrics, trims and buttons to sewing thread, labeling or packaging—Saleemi said the process will be simplified for designers and sourcing executives.
Rajby is up for the challenge. Saleemi is upfront in acknowledging that, as a denim company, more work needs to be done. “I’ll be honest with you, when I saw the Beluga, I was like, it’s white,” he said of the indigo-free fabric. “But that’s the beauty of it, you have to start at some point.”
Rajby is among the roster of Pakistan mills to achieve C2C Gold status for two product lines, Green Mystery denim and Blue Magic denim.
Scaling C2C-certified fabrics has been made possible thanks to open-source guides. Artistic Milliners released the first C2C Gold-level fabric with G-Star Raw in 2018, followed by Soorty. C2C Gold-level requirements demand eco-friendly and healthy products including materials and dyes, a minimum usage of 50 percent renewable energies as well as drastic savings of water and a commitment to social standards.
Saleemi urged other companies to follow their lead and design with C2C goals in mind. “Help us build this story a little further and take it to the end consumer, because to be honest with you, there is a major disruption in how products are being perceived and the consumer out there probably is going to tell us what they want,” he said. “That will be scary if we’re not ready for it.”
He added, “If we don’t work collectively, we will not make this change.”


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Japanese restaurant Blue Ribbon Sushi arrives in Kenmore Square on June 23, courtesy of acclaimed New York-based hospitality group Blue Ribbon Restaurants (no relation to the Greater Boston mini-chain of Blue Ribbon barbecue joints). It’s the first of three Blue Ribbon projects set to open at the Hotel Commonwealth, taking over the spaces that previously housed the iconic neighborhood trio of Island Creek Oyster Bar, the Hawthorne, and Eastern Standard.
Blue Ribbon Restaurants chef-owners Bruce and Eric Bromberg opened the first Blue Ribbon Sushi location in New York City in 1995 with late partner master sushi chef Toshi Ueki; they’ve since opened versions of it elsewhere in New York City as well as in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Miami. They’ve already been working with New England seafood purveyors for the past three decades, so opening in Boston “is a homecoming of sorts,” Bruce Bromberg said via a press release.
With this opening, they’re bringing some Boston industry vets into the fold as well: Dan Bazzinotti and Keith Pooler are onboard as chefs of the three Boston Blue Ribbon restaurants, and the general manager of Blue Ribbon Sushi’s Kenmore Square location, Allan Tidd, is a Boston native. Keith Pooler was chef and owner of now-closed but beloved restaurants Bergamot in Somerville and Bisq in Cambridge; Bazzinotti worked at both, including as the opening executive chef at Bisq, before heading over to Eataly and, most recently, Premiere on Broadway. He’s particularly known for his charcuterie skills.
At Blue Ribbon Sushi, the team is serving a variety of sushi, sashimi, maki, and more, featuring seafood from New England, Japan, and beyond; there’s an extensive a la carte menu, as well as omakase, which starts at $145 per person.
To drink, there’s a particular focus on sake, including several of Blue Ribbon’s own proprietary offerings, as well as Japanese beer and whisky. Wines come from Italy, France, and California, and a succinct cocktail selection includes Blue Ribbon classics like a lychee martini.
Here’s the full opening menu (click here to load PDF if it doesn’t appear below):
Blue Ribbon Sushi fits 120 seats into the intimate former home of the cocktail bar the Hawthorne at 500a Commonwealth Avenue; there’s a 14-seat sushi counter and six-seat cocktail bar as well as dining room space, including a 50-seat private room available for events. It’s not the only Japanese dining option within the Hotel Commonwealth as Japan-based udon chain Tsurutontan opened there two and a half years ago.
Around fall 2022 and 2023, the remaining two Blue Ribbon restaurants are expected to open at the hotel. Per previous reports, the one opening in the former Eastern Standard space will be a brasserie while the one opening in the old Island Creek Oyster Bar space will be a seafood spot — the previous formulas worked well — but the Blue Ribbon team isn’t sharing additional details at this time.
The loss of the former trio of restaurants from Boston hospitality mainstay Garrett Harker has been a tough pill to swallow for local diners, but fans can take comfort in the fact that Harker has four new projects in the works nearby, with longtime collaborator Jackson Cannon reportedly onboard to head up the beverage program. So while it might be initially hard to snack on spicy lobster rolls and seared salmon belly where you once drank carefully made cocktails with a side of steak tartare, know that the former team is working on some big things right down the street. Meanwhile, the Blue Ribbon crew has thirty years of a solid reputation in New York and beyond and has added some strong Boston talent to the mix for these new Kenmore Square openings.
Starting June 23, Blue Ribbon Sushi will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; extended hours and lunch will launch later. Reservations are available online.


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FORTNITE developer Epic Games has surprised fans with its latest patch by introducing a complete overhaul to one of the map's most original locations. While many fans were prepared for the introduction of the Road Trip skin, Epic announced the return of the popular Tomato Head skin, but with some significant upgrades. Here's the lowdown... Fortnite Tomato Head skin challenge - where is Tomato Temple on the map? Tomato Temple can be found in the same spot as the now extinct Tomato Town, however, the new location features more vegetation and contains an underground section. The new location also marks the return of the giant Tomatohead, which last was seen from its original spot on top of a restuarant in TT at the end of Season four. The update coincided with the release of the 5.30 patch which also introduced the Rift-To-Go item and the new limited time Score Royale LTM. Epic has also released the free Fortnite 'Boogie Down' emote by enabling two-factor authentication on your account. … [Read more...] about Fortnite Tomato Head skin challenge – where is Tomato Temple on the map and how do you unlock the skin?
Anniversary do you celebrate
FORTNITE fans will finally get their first chance to look at the ultimate reward the Season Five Battle Pass has to offer. Players have had to patiently wait for the past seven weeks for a chance to unlock the Fortnite Road Trip skin and we have all you need to know... What is Fortnite's Road Trip skin and how do you unlock it? The ultimate achievement for Fortnite's Viking-themed Season Five is the Road Trip skin which requires players to complete seven weeks worth of challenges. Each set of completed challenges will earn you another tick on the Road Trip Challenge loading screen. Twitter user Crossleaks has shared a closer look at the new Road Trip skin from the new in-game files as part of the v. 5.30 patch. It's possible that the new skin could impact on the conclusion of Season Five in the same way the arrival of the Season Four Blockbuster skin, otherwise known as The Visitor was. What are the Fortnite challenges? Fortnite week seven challenges are officially available … [Read more...] about Fortnite Road Trip skin leaked – what does the season Five outfit look like and how do you unlock it?
The Overwatch Anniversary event will be returning on May 22, 2018, according to a press release from Blizzard Entertainment. Overwatch Anniversary is a yearly event for Blizzard’s first-person shooter Overwatch that celebrates the release of the game. Last year’s run of the event brought with it the return of Elimination mode, three new maps for the mode, a bunch of new character skins, and a whole lot more. A somewhat controversial addition to the game was a single Epic dance emote for each of the game’s characters at the time, costing the standard treble price of 750 Credits. The sheer volume of these dances along with the Legendary skins made it one of the most expensive events in-game to date. The game also had a free weekend and a sale for the first time since the holidays. This year, Overwatch Anniversary will bring with it 50 new items including eight new Legendary skins and three Epic skins. Doomfist, Moira, and Brigitte are getting new dance emotes. A … [Read more...] about Overwatch Anniversary Returns May 22, Introduces Legendary Edition
Following the success of NES Classic and SNES Classic from Nintendo, Sega announced that it would be releasing its Genesis Mini in 2018 and now SNK has jumped onto the Classic Edition bandwagon and has announced Neo Geo CLassic Edition for its 40th anniversary. The company revealed in a Tweet that as part of the 40th-anniversary celebration, SNK will be rolling out the Neo Geo Classic Edition which will come with a number of classic games. However, SNK didn’t reveal the console itself and nor the games that will be featured in the console. This year, SNK celebrates its 40th anniversary It is with gratitude towards the fans who have supported SNK’s titles, including The King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown, and Metal Slug, that we introduce a new game machine that compiles the popular titles of Neo Geo! Please look forward to it. The Future is Now! It seems like we will be looking quite a few Classic Editions of older consoles that also feature classic games as … [Read more...] about SNK Bringing Neo Geo Classic Edition For The 40th Anniversary
Years ago, most of us might have balked at the thought of an exclusively multiplayer AAA shooter. In fact, many of us did, heavily criticising games like Titanfall and Star Wars Battlefront for their lack of meaningful single player content or, in the case of the former, any single player content at all. Then Overwatch came out, and proved that story campaigns weren’t a necessity if your online experience is rich and robust enough to keep players coming back for weeks, months, and even years. Overwatch is now about to celebrate its second anniversary, and is still very much enjoying success in an evolving gaming culture it helped to create, where it's the exclusively single player experiences that are now considered as the risky ventures, while online only titles like Rainbow Six: Siege and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds continue to thrive. There is still, however, a not insignificant demand for Blizzard to take a break from fine-tuning Overwatch’s sublime PvP and … [Read more...] about Overwatch’s latest PvE mode is the game’s best addition yet, and all the assurance you need that Blizzard could eventually give us a full co-op campaign


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A cliff-edge ending to the government’s furlough scheme would result in mass redundancies across the sector.
Experts have warned that if the government fails to implement a tapered end to the furlough scheme thousands could lose their jobs.
With two thirds of businesses across the country with some proportion of their staff on the job retention scheme – or furlough – confirmation of an eased reintroduction is desperately needed.
Mike Jones, chairman of ASE Global, said: ‘The government needs to ensure that there isn’t a cliff-edge end to either the lockdown or the furlough scheme.
‘If the scheme were to end on June 30 then this would result in mass redundancies in the sector, even if the lockdown has been lifted.’
Car dealers and manufacturers are predicting a possible early surge in demand for new and used cars when the lockdown is lifted – but most admit that is unlikely to last.
With many industries across the UK, from airlines to travel and hospitality, facing redundancies, a weakening in consumer confidence will undoubtedly hit the car market.
John O’Hanlon, CEO of Waylands Automotive, which runs four Volvo dealers, said he believed such an ending would be useful.
He told Car Dealer Magazine: ‘If we could do a partial furlough to help us through the initial stage that would be incredibly helpful.
‘If it was based on the amount the government funds that would be the simple and easy way.
‘If the government allowed us to move to a percentage that they funded, maybe not at 80 per cent, so there is some relief to the taxpayer, that would allow us to maintain a level.
‘Our people feel like family so it would be great if we could still retain them and pay them at a level that allows us to be a little bit more patient.’
Marshall Motor Group CEO Daksh Gupta agreed, adding: ‘A tapered end to the furlough scheme whereby the government pays a reduced percentage of staff’s wages would certainly help ease the pressure on dealers when they are returning to work.’
David Kendrick, partner in accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young, told Car Dealer that when the lockdown lifts ‘it is unlikely sales will be straight back to 100 per cent’.
‘Also, with social distancing in place there may be less ramps that can be worked on in workshops, therefore I think the government needs to allow the furlough scheme to be in place in some capacity for the medium term to avoid redundancies,’ he told Car Dealer.
‘If this was on a gradual basis then business owners could bring back the correct level of staff based on demand and it also protects employment.’
Kendrick thinks that during May and June further announcements will be made.
ASE Global’s Jones expects there to be a tapered end to the scheme that would allow the car industry to get back up to speed.
He added: ‘Practically it will take considerable time before we have a requirement for all of the sales staff we have currently furloughed, given the expected levels of demand.
‘And that is assuming we can physically accommodate everyone at a social distance from each other at that time.
‘If the government stops making the furlough payments, then businesses will have to reluctantly react accordingly and let people go until the economy recovers, which is a solution the whole furlough scheme is in place to avoid.’
Kendrick’s colleague at UHY Hacker Young, Paul Daly, was more pessimistic and thinks it could be difficult to introduce such a tapering.
He said: ‘The practicalities of such a system may prove too difficult to implement and would be open to abuse.
‘My view is that furlough is likely to be extended further, perhaps by one or two months, but then businesses will need to stand on their own feet and they should plan their resources accordingly.’
Kiril Moskovchuk, an employment specialist at Lawgistics said it’s not a case of if redundancies will be made, it is how many.
He said: ‘The furlough scheme has already been extended to the end of June, and it will certainly help to avoid at least some redundancies if the scheme is extended further, even on less generous terms. It is not a question of if the redundancies will follow, it is a matter of scale.’
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PlayStation has created a “preservation team,” according to a new employee.
Yesterday, Garrett Fredley announced that he has now joined PlayStation as a Senior Construction Engineer. Fredley previously worked as a construction engineer for mobile game developer Kabam. In a tweet sharing the news, Fredley also revealed that he was one of the first to join PlayStation’s new game curation team.
“Today is my first day as a Senior Construction Engineer at PlayStation, working as one of their first recruits for the newly created preservation team!” Fredley said.
Today is my first day as a Senior Construction Engineer at @PlayStation, working as one of their first recruits for the newly created Curation Team! Preserving the game was the first passion of my career, so I’m excited to get back to those roots 😊April 25, 2022
He went into a bit more detail in a LinkedIn post shared by user Smitch on Resetera, stating that the game’s preservation team aims to “ensure that the history of our industry is not forgotten.” He also thanked PlayStation’s global head of quality assurance, Mike Bishop, for adding him to the team.
“Game preservation was my first professional passion. It was my first foray into the world of software engineering/Dev Ops, and a world that so many people ignore. I was just a novice at the time. , contributing in any way I can, regardless of my inexperience. Now I’m back, not the rookie I was.
“Thank you Mike Bishop and the team for taking me on this journey. Let’s go ahead and make sure the history of our industry is not forgotten!”
Without an official announcement, we still don’t know exactly what the role of the game’s preservation team is, but it could involve bringing more of the brand’s back catalog to its new consoles. It could be related to the PlayStation Plus rebranding, which puts more emphasis on PlayStation’s past with a library of over 700 games, including PS1, PS2 and PSP classics. The new team could work to bring those older games to the subscription service.
The new PlayStation Plus will launch in June. we gather everyone PS Plus Premium and Extra games confirmed so far.


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Here are some tips for gifting sustainably during the holidays
Sustainable gift giving helps reduce waste and avoids adverse effects on the environment.
Our weekly program, Missouri State Journal, is a collaboration between KSMU Radio and Missouri State University. It's hosted and produced by MSU's Office of Strategic Communication, and it airs each Tuesday morning at 9:45 on KSMU.
The holiday season is a time of giving, and Americans spend a lot of money on gifts. In 2022, the National Retail Federation reported that the average American plans to spend $826 on gifts, food and decorations for the holidays. Of that amount, around $500 goes toward gifts for family members.
With such a large quantity of presents being given away, it’s important to consider: What’s the carbon footprint of these gifts? How can consumers be more intentional about gifting more sustainably this holiday season?
Missouri State University sophomore Sam Wang offers some insights about sustainable gift giving. He is a double major in history and anthropology. He currently serves as the chief sustainability commissioner for the Student Government Association.


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The Galaxy Note 7 smartphone was launched in Blue Coral, Gold Platinum, Silver Titanium, and Black Onyx color options. The Blue Coral color variant is not made available in selected markets including India. As the Galaxy Note 7 production is stopped after the serial battery explosions, Samsung has offered refund or exchange for the every unit sold. From the last couple of months, we have seen few images of the Galaxy S7 Edge in the Coral Blue color. Last week, this new color option was made available in few markets including Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea. Now the latest news is that the same device will also be available via T-Mobile in the U.S starting from November 18th.
Another US-based carrier AT&T is already taking pre-orders for the new Blue color Galaxy S7 Edge. While T-Mobile joins the list of carriers selling Galaxy S7 Edge in Blue color, Verizon is also rumored to start selling this device by the end of this week. The pre-ordered devices from AT&T will be shipped from November 18th; the same device will be available from T-Mobile from the same date. As far as the specifications are considered, the new Blue colored device will feature same specifications as the earlier launched Galaxy S7 Edge. The pricing will be the same as other color options, but the availability cannot be assured as this is the newly announced color option.
The device comes with a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with Quad HD (2540 x 1440 pixels) resolution and curved edges on both sides. Under the hood is the Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor clocked at 2.3GHz and coupled with Adreno 530 GPU. There is also another variant with Exynos 8890 octa-core processor. It packs 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage that can be further expanded upto 256GB using the provided MicroSD card slot. The device will be running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box while the Android 7.0 Nougat based TouchWix UI update can be expected soon. Samsung is said to be testing the latest Android update on Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S6, and Galaxy S6 Edge smartphones.
The device is backed by a 3,600 battery that also supports Quick Charge 3.0 with the Adaptive fast charging power adapter. On the camera front, there is a 12MP dual pixel rear camera and a 5MP selfie camera on the front. Though there are many smartphones launched after the MWC 2016, still Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are one of the top smartphones in offering best camera experience. Now the latest rumors are that Galaxy S8 might launch in 5.7-inch and 6.2-inch screen size options. These devices will be coming with the model numbers SM-G950 and SM-955 respectively. The Galaxy S8 devices might come with more than 90% screen-to-body ratio. They might look similar to the Xiaomi’s Mi MIX with an almost bezel-less display. On the other hand, the leaked SM-N950 model number is expected to be of next year’s Galaxy Note 8.


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Starbucks Corp. Company Profile
Starbucks is a roaster, marketer and retailer of coffee. Co. purchases and roasts coffees that it sells, along with coffee, tea and other beverages and food items, through Co.-operated stores. Co. also sells a variety of coffee and tea products and licenses its trademarks through other channels such as licensed stores, grocery and national foodservice accounts. Co.'s portfolio also includes goods and services provided under these brands: Teavana, Tazo, Seattle's Best Coffee, and Ethos. Co. has four segments: Americas; Europe, Middle East, and Africa; and China/Asia Pacific; and Channel Development. At Sep 28 2014, Co. had 10,713 Co.-operated retail stores and 10,653 licensed stores.
Address: 2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98134 | Tel: 206 447-1575 | http://www.starbucks.com
Starbucks Corp. Latest News
Starbucks announces that it will open a Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Tokyo in 2018, which will be the company's fourth such location globally; the 13,000 sq.-ft. location will provide customers with an 'all-sensory environment', company saysOct. 20, 2016, Business Wire
Starbucks pushing ahead with its expansion into China, says it's on track to having 5,000 stores there by 2021, more than doubling the number of stores it currently has in the countryOct. 19, 2016, Associated Press
Starbucks China announces promotions of Belinda Wong to CEO and Leo Tsoi to CFO, both effective immediatelyOct. 19, 2016, Starbucks Corp.
- Revenue 4,993 millions US$
- Earnings 575 millions US$
- EBITDA 1,061 millions US$
- EBITDA Margin 21.24%
- Latest Quarter April 2016
- Last Updated 2016-10-21
- Country List USA


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Just one week ago, the Hebrew Homes Health Network, Inc., along with its former president and executive director, came to an agreement with the authorities: They would pay $17 million to close the False Claims Act case against them.
According to a recently unsealed whistleblower lawsuit, two health care providers in Indiana put the health of mothers and newborns at risk in a Medicaid fraud scheme that placed the care of low-income, pregnant mothers in the hands of lower-cost midwives rather than doctors. The suit alleges that the health care providers -- IU Health and HealthNet Inc. -- then falsely billed Medicaid for doctor-provided services.
Consumers know that one of the great things about the Internet is being able to research products and services before you buy them. Often an important part of that process is looking at what other consumers have said after making the purchase. Ratings and opinions can vary widely, but it is still possible to get a reasonably clear idea of a product based on how consumers' descriptions of it fit or don't fit with your specific needs.
In 2012 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) notified 22 hotel companies that their websites "may violate the law by providing a deceptively low estimate of what consumers can expect to pay for their hotel rooms." The notification relates to undisclosed "resort fees," which were not being disclosed to consumers when their rooms were booked online.
Consumer fraud takes many forms, but one of the most egregious kinds of consumer fraud involves targeting elderly individuals who may be particularly vulnerable to illegal sales tactics.
News stories about large-scale hacking operations are becoming so numerous that the term "data breach" is now a regular part of the American lexicon. In the past couple years, retailers like Target and Home Depot have allowed hackers to obtain credit card numbers and other sensitive data from millions of customers.
Whether it might come in the next few days or next few months isn't clear, but according to unnamed sources cited by The New York Times it's looking like a major consumer fraud case against bond rating giant Standard & Poor's may be in the offing.
The app-based transportation network Uber continues to face legal troubles, as three lawsuits have been brought in the last month on behalf of Uber passengers. The San Francisco-based company is also facing a class action lawsuit in which a class of drivers says the company failed to pay them as employees. Jillian Boyce, of Shepherd, Finkelman, Miller & Shah, discussed the drivers' lawsuit in a previous post.
In October we discussed a New Jersey bill that, if passed into law, would reduce penalties for some companies that commit technical violations of the state's Consumer Fraud Act. One aspect of the bill, which you can read more about in our previous post, allows companies to avoid having to pay plaintiffs' legal fees and other costs if the violation in question did not result in loss to the consumer.
New Jersey's Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee recently approved a bill meant to reduce penalties for companies that are found by a court to have committed only a technical violation of the state Consumer Fraud Act. Currently, an individual who wins a consumer fraud lawsuit against a New Jersey company is entitled to compensation for the costs of litigation, including attorney fees, even if no damages were suffered by the plaintiff.